Colonic diverticular disease. Its spectrum in a community hospital.

A retrospective study of 239 patients who were hospitalized for diverticular disease is reported. Two thirds of patients had simple diverticulosis, and the remainder had gastrointestinal bleeding, evidence of microabscess, or more serious complications. The prevalence of bleeding on the left side in this series differs from the prevalence of right-sided bleeding noted in the literature, and this difference is unexplained. Only three patients in this series died (overall mortality, 1.2%); all had other associated life-threatening diseases.

Variability in the management of hypertension and cost-effectiveness: methodology, community care results and potential cost reductions.

This study examined factors contributing to variability in the cost-effectiveness of managing hypertension using the Weinstein and Stason methodology. Empirical analysis was based on resource use and blood pressure data from 160 persons ages 25-64 in an urban community family practice center in 1976. The exploratory study presented results on blood pressure reduction, annual treatment costs, the importance of different cost factors, variability in management costs and potentials for increasing cost-effectiveness. For males cost-effectiveness estimates were similar to those of Weinstein and Stason , while the results for women were somewhat different due to less cost-effectiveness in hypertension management for older women. With small modifications in current Family Practice procedures the cost-effectiveness of managing hypertension appears to be able to be increased in many cases by as much as one-third.